Improved mode of manufacturing superphosphate of lime



E. P. BAUGH.

Making Superphosphate of Lime. No. 47,610.

Witnesses,

Patented May 9. 1865.

A M. PHOTO-LITMUJIU. N.V.(0SBGRNES PH DCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo llllWlN l. lAlGll, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MODE 0F MANUFACTURING SUFERFHOSPHATE OF LIME.

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 7,6l0, dated May 9,N65.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, lnwiN l?. Bauen, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented an Improved Mode of Manufacturing Superphos` pirates ofLime; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact descripi tion of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in converting bones and other animal ofl'al intosnperphosphate of lime by thoroughly mixing the same with sulpliuricacid in a closed or nearly closed vessel or tank, substantially in themanner described hereinafter, so that the process may be conductedrapidly and without interrup tion.

My invention further consists in combining the said vessel or tank witha spiked roller and concave or other equivalent mechanism, by which thesuperphosphate as it leaves the vessel may be thoroughly disintegratedand ready for use.

In order to enable others to prosecute my invention, I will now proceedto describe the manner of carrying it into effect.

It will be proper in the Iirst instance to explain the usual process oftreating bones and other animal off-ail, guano, &c., for converting itinto soluble su perphosphate of lime. The common process is to placebones, oifal, or guano ou a floor, and to mix it with sulphuric acid inthe same manner as ordinary mortar is mixed, and in some cases theoperatonis conducted in open shallow vats. There are several objectionsto these modes of manufacturing superphosphates. First, the gases whichare generated during the process, and which would perform an importantduty in assisting to render the matter soluble are permitted to escape;second, the greater portion of the heat given out by the action of thesulphuric acid escapes and its utility as an assistant in the processlost; third, the process demands tedious and expensive manipulation;fourth, the superphosphate manufactured by the old processes isimperfect, subsequent drying and other treatment being in most casesrequired.

In the accompanying drawing I have illnstrated apparatus by which myprocess may be conducted, a process by which the above difficulties areobviatcll.

A is a tank or reservoir, which I prefer to make of two thicknesses ofwood with clay in tervening, the vessel bei'igof suliicient dimensionsto contain about ten tons ofthe material. In the top of the vessel,which is on a level with an upper floor, is a central opening, a, and onone side of the latter is a leaden vessel, b, containing a supply ofsulphuric acid, a spigot, d, attached to the vessel being so sit' uatedas to permit the acid to liow into the central opening of the tank. Thelower end of the vat is of the tapering form represented, and terminatesin an orifice, e, above which is a sliding door or damper, and beneaththe vessel, on the lower floor, is a spiked roller, B, which is causedto revolve in the direction of the arrow in close contiguity to a spikedconcave, D.

The material is conveyed along the upper ioor by wheelbarrows orsuitable machinery to the central opening, a, through which it isshoveled by an attendant into the tank. At the same time a small streamof sulphuric acid is permitted to iiow with the material into theopening a. Both the bones or other oiial and acid, as they pass into.the tank,

will take the direction pointed out by the upper arrows, the mass ofmaterial assuming the conical form illustrated.

As the material passes toward the exitopening ot' the tank it will takethe direction pointed out by the lower arrows. A thorough mixture isthus elfccted, and the bones or other oifal are convertedintosuperphosphates before they leave the tank, Falling in coagulated massesonto the concave D, the super14 phosphate is thoroughly disintegrated bythe revolving spiked roller, and is in a proper condition for immediateuse.

It will be evident that independent of the thorough admixture of theacid with the offal, and the consequent conversion of the same into asoluble superphosphate, but little ot the gases and heat can escape. Atthe same time the process is continuous and rapid, and one requiring notedious manipulation.

Although I have illustrated a mode of car rying out my invention which Ihave found successful in practice, it will be evident that admixinre of'the oinl and acid may be ef fected by modified apparatus dii'ering inmany respects from that described.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1.Converting' bones and other offal and guano into superphosphate of limeby causing the same to be thoroughly mixed with acid in a closed ornearly closed tank, substantially in the manner described.

2. The combination of the spiked roller and concave or other equivalentdisintegrating mechanism with the said tank.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of' two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN P. BAUGH. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rnn, J oIIN VVIHTE.

